Spellslinger (Spellslinger #1)(44)

He gave no reply, but instead held out a roll of parchment. Even in the dim light I could make out the black wax seal of the dowager magus. I cracked the seal and opened it, careful not to let the anticipated gold disc fall out. However, the parchment was empty, save for a single, hastily scrawled message. ‘At your convenience,’ it said.

I looked down at the ground, wondering if perhaps the disc had fallen without my noticing. Without it, Osia’phest wouldn’t allow me to attempt the third trial alongside the other initiates. ‘Was there anything else with the message?’ I asked the guard.

Again he remained silent.

I noticed he also made no move to leave, or to let me walk past him. ‘So when she says, “At your convenience,” what she really means is …’

The guard gave me a slight smile for the first time. ‘Now,’ he said.

My second meeting with the dowager magus was just as odd as the first, though vastly more uncomfortable.

‘Just how stupid is your father?’ Mer’esan asked, hands across her lap as she sat in her chair looking up at me.

I worked my way through a rather long list of possible replies, trying to find one that would perfectly articulate my anger at this slight against my family’s honour while also protecting me from a death sentence. ‘Forgive me, Mer’esan, I don’t understand the question.’

‘Yes, you do. Your father believes the Mahdek have come back from the dead to attack our people, that they decided to target your sister, and that bringing a nekhek to our city is a good idea.’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘Disgusting little monsters.’

‘Ferius …’ I hesitated.

‘Speak,’ Mer’esan commanded.

‘She says the animal is called a squirrel cat – that it’s not a demon at all.’

‘And what do you believe?’

Again I searched for a reply that wouldn’t get me into trouble. ‘Lord Magus Ke’heops,’ I began, using my father’s formal title, ‘believes that some of the Mahdek must have survived, perhaps growing their numbers in secret. He believes they intend to use the nekhek to—’

‘No, he only says he believes this foolishness.’ Her eyes narrowed. ‘Apparently you think he’s even more of an idiot than I do. He hopes to take advantage of this opportunity to show how his strength is what our people need now that my husband is dead.’

A thought occurred to me then, like a fist clenched around my stomach. ‘Do you intend to resist my father’s election as clan prince?’

‘I couldn’t care less who becomes the next clan prince, child.’

The next words came out of my mouth far too fast for my own good. ‘Then what exactly do you care about, Mer’esan?’

The sudden stare she gave me convinced me that I’d gone too far. She rose to her feet and began walking around me as if I were a poorly made sculpture she were examining. ‘You fought your own friends to save the Argosi woman. Why?’

I considered my reply. If Mer’esan had decided that Ferius was, in fact, some kind of spy or wished us ill, it wouldn’t be hard to interpret my actions as treason against my own people. ‘You commanded me to maintain her interest in me, Dowager Magus.’

She stopped in front of me and held up a hand. Once again I could see the web of coloured tendrils of energy weaving under her skin. ‘It takes almost every ounce of magic I have to keep myself alive, Kellen, but I assure you the minuscule amount that remains is more than enough to beat the truth from you.’

I thought up a dozen other reasons, plausible explanations for my actions. I’m a reasonably accomplished liar most days. But the dowager magus seemed to be better at detecting dishonesty than I was at conjuring it. ‘I like her,’ I said.

‘You like her?’

I nodded.

‘Is she particularly pretty? Do you desire this woman? Do you hope she might –’ Mer’esan waved a finger in the direction of my trousers – ‘teach you things?’

I felt my cheeks flush and started fumbling for words, then stopped myself. It’s a game. Mer’esan knows I wasn’t referring to some misplaced teenage lust. She’s testing me again.

‘Ah,’ the dowager magus said, tapping my forehead. ‘Clever. Good.’ She resumed her slow walk around me. ‘Show me more.’

‘You don’t believe the Mahdek have returned,’ I said.

‘That much is obvious.’

‘But you think there is a threat,’ I added.

‘Again, obvious.’

I thought about how angry she was over my father’s assumptions. ‘You believe the men in masks are a distraction.’

She quickened her pace. ‘Obvious. Obvious. Obvious. Ask me a question worthy of an answer.’

I tried to imagine who might be working against us. The Daroman kings had a long history of seeking control over the Jan’Tep. That was why people were so quick to believe Ferius must be a spy. The Mahdek – if there were any left – had sworn blood oaths to destroy us, which explained my father’s convictions. The Berabesq considered our magic to be a blasphemy against their six-faced god … We had no end of enemies – that was precisely why magic was so vital to our society, why the trials were so harsh. It was why Jan’Tep and Sha’Tep were not allowed to marry – for fear that such unions would weaken the bloodlines.